Sports

Badgers face rival UMD

Last weekend, the No. 4 Wisconsin women's hockey team faced the last-place team in the WCHA, Bemidji State. This weekend, the Badgers (10-4-2, 6-2-2 WCHA) will face a much stiffer test when No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth (10-3-1, 9-3-0 WCHA), the top team in the conference, comes to the Kohl Center for a weekend series.

UW and UMD have developed a fierce rivalry over the past few years. The Badgers played the Bulldogs five times last season, going 3-1-1, including a win over UMD in the NCAA Championship game.

"They know that we are a good team, and we know that they are a good team," senior Emily Morris said. "We each spend all week preparing for one another, and we are each going to bring our ‘A’ game for each other. Who wants it more is the team that is going to win."

Adding to the intensity of the matchup is the fact that UMD sits atop the WCHA standings. The Bulldogs have 18 points in the conference, while the Badgers are in third place with 14 points. If UW sweeps UMD, the two teams would be in a tie for first place.

"Obviously, playing against the top-seeded team, we will have a lot of motivation and drive this weekend," junior Erika Lawler said. "Since they are the top-seeded team, I think that we will feel some pressure, not in a fearful way, but in a positive way. Because we are not the first place team, it encourages us to work hard and earn that spot."

Minnesota-Duluth comes into the series as the No. 1 offensive team in the WCHA, averaging 4 goals per game. Wisconsin, however, is the No. 1 defensive team in the WCHA, giving up an average of 1.1 goals per game.

"It starts in the net with our goaltender and her ability to keep the puck out of the net," head coach Mark Johnson said of his team's success on defense. "If we are going to be successful … our margin of error isn't real high right now because we are not putting the puck in the net. We need our defense to help us win some games when we are not scoring consistently."

The Bulldogs have one of the top goaltenders in the conference in sophomore Kim Martin. Martin is second in the WCHA in goals allowed at 1.46 a game and is first in save percentage at .952. Martin could prove to be a tough challenge for a team that has struggled to score goals consistently this season.

Last weekend, Wisconsin scored seven goals in Friday’s game against Bemidji State, including three power play goals en route to a 7-0 win. Saturday, however, proved to be a challenge for UW, as they couldn't manage a goal in a 0-0 tie.

"It is frustrating that we were unable to put the puck in the net," Lawler said. "You just have to take it in stride and work on scoring in practice. Hopefully we can learn from that game, and the next time we run into a really hot goaltender we will find a way to put the puck in the net."

In hopes of bolstering their offense, the Badgers have made their power play a point of emphasis in practice the past few weeks.

"We have practiced the power play a lot," Lawler said. "It is all about moving the puck faster and being confident, and I think that we will have more success with our power play."